Steel door frame

ABSTRACT

A door frame assembly for installation around a passageway formed in an existing wall which includes a head frame and a pair of door jambs each door jamb being held in place by a pair of bottom anchors which engage the door jamb and are fastened to the outer surface of the surrounding walls and a clamping device positioned within each door jamb which may be adjusted to grip the adjacent wall surfaces.

United States Patent Primary ExaminerFrank L. Abbott AssistantExaminerSam D. Burke Attorney-Amster & Rothstein ABSTRACT: A door frameassembly for installation around a passageway formed in an existing wallwhich includes a head frame and a pair of door jambs each door jambbeing held in place by a pair of bottom anchors which engage the doorjamb and are fastened to the outer surface of the surrounding walls anda clamping device positioned within each door jamb which may be adjustedto grip the adjacent wall surfaces.

[72] Inventor Nathan Maizler Miami Beach, Fla. 211 App]. No. 830,935[22] Filed June 6,1969 [45] Patented June 22,197! [73] Assignee MaizlerIron Works, Inc.

Mlami,Fla.

[54] STEEL DOOR FRAME 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 52/217, 49/504, 287/2092 D, 287/1 89.36 H [51] lnt.Cl .LE06b1/20 [50] FieldofSearch 52/213, 217,211;49/504 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 3,248,833 5/1966 Sklar 49/505 X 3,250,049 5/1966Sklar 52/213 X A A [I l 66 53 l l, 90 l (v N A. I 4 94 '1 9; I l l l l Ill: 1: L I i, ;E .56 /;E I

PATENTEU JUN22 ISZI SHEET 2 OF 2 STEEL DOOR FRAME The present inventionrelates generally to door frames for door passageways, and in particularto a prefabricated door frame assembly for use in doorways formed inexisting walls.

Hollow metal door frames for defining a doorway are well known in theart. In a typical prior art structure the door jambs on either side ofthe doorway are held in place by a series of anchors or straps whichextend perpendicularly into the wall structure surrounding the doorway.These anchors are fastened within the adjacent internal wall structureand serve to hold the door frame rigidly in place. Typically, the doorframe is placed in position and the wall is built up around the framewith the anchors embedded in the wall.

The utilization of jamb anchors is not an entirely satisfactorily way ofattaching a door frame to a doorway since it requires access to theadjacent internal wall structure which may not be practiced or evenfeasible in some applications. This is particularly true where theintended doorway is not part of the original construction of a buildingand is to be cut into an existing solid wall. In such a situation it hasgenerally been necessary to cut a passageway which is significantlylarger than the intended final size of the doorway and then to build upthe wall between the door frame and the old portions of the wall for thepurpose of anchoring the door frame.

It is generally an object of the present invention to provide animproved metal door frame. Specifically, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide improved fastening means which does not requireaccess to the interior wall structure adjacent to the intended doorwayand which therefore eliminates the need to cut into the existing wallbeyond the edges of the new door frame.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects andfeatures of the present invention there is provided a metal door frameassembly for a passageway which comprises a header and spaced first andsecond door jambs cooperating to define a doorway. The door frameassembly may additionally be provided with external bottom anchoringmeans for the door jambs and internally mounted but externally operatedclamping means for each door jamb. The anchoring and clamping meanscontemplated by the present invention cooperate to rigidly mount thedoor frame in the surrounding walls. Since the attachment of the frameto the wall may be accomplished without the use of internal jamb anchorsthe present invention makes it possible to form a door passageway whichis precut to the exact size of the desired doorway. Thus, by virtue ofthe present invention the need for cutting an enlarged door passagewaywhich must be subsequently replastered and otherwise refinished iseliminated.

The above description, as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated byreference to the following detailed description of a presently preferredand illustrative embodiment of the present invention, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a door frame assembly embodying features ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded partial perspective view of the associationbetween one end of the header, a door jamb and clamp means in accordancewith invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the assembled header and doorjamb;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bottom anchor employed in a door framein accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the clampmeans; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the clamp taken along the line 7-7 of FIG.2.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1,there is shown a typical door frame assembly generally designated as 10which frames and surrounds a doorway 12. The door frame comprises a doorheader I4 and door jambs 16 and 18. The lower portion of each door jambmay be equipped with a pair of anchor members 20, one on each side ofthe wall to which the door frame 10 is secured. Included within theupper structure of each door jamb is at least one clamp generallydesignated as 22 and 24 in FIG. 1.

Both the header and the door jambs are formed metal pieces which may bebent or formed from material such as cold rolled steel, bonderizedsteel, electrozinc coated bonderized steel or the like, or alternativelymay be extruded into the desired shape. Header I4 is a generallychannel-shaped continuous piece of formed metal comprising a lowersection 30, having a rectangular channel 32 defining a door seat andfirst and second flange members 34 and 36. Flange members 34 and 36terminate in lip members 38 and 40 which are formed by a pair ofconsecutive right angle bends in the portion of the header forming firstand second flange portions 34 and 36. The header is formed with twopairs of slots 42, 42a, and 44, 44a at each of its respective ends, theslots being complementary with aligned tongue members 46, 46a, and 48,48a which extend from each door jamb I6 and 18. The respective oppositeends of header 14 and particularly flange members 34 and 36 thereof, arecut at a 45 angle indicated by the numerals 50, 52 in FIG. 2 so as tomate with complimentary surfaces on each door jamb.

Each door jamb is comprised of a formed metal member which is similar instructure to the previously described header member. Thus, the door jambcomprises a generally channeled-shaped member having an inward facingportion 56 which has a rectangular-shaped door seat 58 formed therein;first and second flange members 60, 62; and first and second lip members64, 66 formed by successive right angle bends in first and second flangemembers. The door jambs are provided with complimentary mating surfaces68, 70 cut at a 45 angle which abut the similarly cut surfaces 50, 52 ofthe header when the door frame is in the assembled condition. Aspreviously described, the door jamb is provided with two pairs of tonguemembers 46, 46a and 48, 480 which are inserted in complimentary slotsprovided in the header upon assembly of the door frame.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the door jamb and header are assembled byswinging the jamb into position beneath the header utilizing thecomplimentary slots, and tongues as guide means. When the door jamb andheader are assembled the tongues 46, 46a will be contained within headermember 14 and will be beyond the reach of the workman installing thedoor frame. However, the tongue members 48, 48a will extend through lips38, 40 which are exposed on either side of the doorway. These tonguesare bent at right angles as shown in FIG. 3 in order to permanentlyconnect the door jamb and header.

When the door jambs and header are assembled in accordance with theabove described details, they will surround the doorway l2 and thematerial of the wall will extend into the space between the respectiveflange members. The permanent, rigid and secure connection of the doorframe to the wall is accomplished by means of clamps 22, 24 and bottomanchor members 18.

A typical bottom anchor 20 is depicted in FIG. 5 and com- I prises agenerally flat metal member 72 having a tongue 74 spaced from saidmetallic member 72-by a right angle bend 76. The combination of tongue74 and right angle bend 76 forms a hook means which overlaps andinterlocks with the lips 64, 66 of each door jamb. The bottom anchor isalso provided with means for fastening the anchor to the walls adjacentto the doorway, for example holes 78, 80 adapted to receive nails 82, 84which, when inserted, securely fasten the bottom of the door frame tothe adjacent wall structure. After fastening the bottom anchors to theadjacent walls by means of nails, screws or other fastening devices, theanchors can be covered with molding or other decorative material toenhance the asthetic effect of the completed doorway.

The door jambs will still not be securely and permanently attached tothe adjacent walls after assemblage of the bottom anchors to theadjacent wall structure since the frame is rigidly anchored only at theextreme lower ends by means of the bottom anchors. A rigid securement isaccomplished by means of clamps 26 and 28. FIGS. 2, 6 and 7 depict theclamping structure 28 positioned within the door jamb l8, preferably ator above the midpoint of the door jamb. The clamping structure comprisesa housing channel 86; a first tension clip 88 having a first arm 88a anda second arm 88b joined by bend 88s; a second tension clip 90 having afirst arm 900, second arm 90b and connecting bend 90c; and a face plate92. Housing chan nel 86 is a channel shape member which by means of arms86a and 86b houses tension clips 88 and 90 to restrain any longitudinalmovement or slippage of the clips within the door jamb. The housing mayadditionally be provided with alignment guides 86c and 86d which aid inpositioning the housing within the door jamb seat 58 and provideadditional strength. The clamp is assembled by passing a screw 94through hole 96 in the seat 58 of each door jamb and aligned holes 98and 100 in the housing channel and face plate, respectively. As thescrew 94 is turned the face plate 100 will move toward the positionshown in outline in FIG. 7 as 92 thereby moving arms 88a 90a, of tensionclips 88 and 90 to the clamping position shown in outline as 880, 90a.The force exerted on these clips by the movement of face place 100 istransmitted through bends 88c, 90c as well as arms 88b, 90b respectivelythereby exerting a tension or clamping force in the vicinity of lips 64,66 of each door jamb at the positions indicated as 102 and 104respectively in FIG. 7. This clamping effect forces the lips 64 and 66inward into gripping engagement with adjacent wall 106 thereby rigidlysecuring the door jamb to this adjacent wall structure.

The invention, will be understood by considering the followingdescription of an installation of a door frame into a wall. In a typicalcase, an opening very slightly larger than the desired final size of thedoorway is cut or formed in an existing wall structure. The frame head Mis installed first and the door jambs l6 and 18 are slipped up into thathead (as shown in outline in FIG. 1) utilizing the tongues 46, 46a, 48,48a and the slots 42, 42a and 44, 440 as a guiding and securement means.The pairs of bottom anchors are snapped into the bottom of the door jambby engagement of hook means 74, 76 of each anchor with the respectivelips 62, 64 of each door jamb, and after insuring that the frame isplumb and square the bottom anchors are nailed or screwed into the baseof the wall through the holes provided in the anchors. The screws 94positioned in each door jamb are then tightened to produce the clampingaction on the adjacent wall structure. The combination of the clampingaction on each door jamb and the fastening of the anchors at the base ofthe jamb hold the frame rigidly in place.

It will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that manymodification may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. For example, the door frame assembly could include additionalclamp means in each door jamb and the externally mounted bottom anchorscould be omitted. The true scope of the invention is defined in theappended claims.

What i claim is:

1. A door frame assembly for insertion into a surrounding wallcomprising a door frame head and a pair of door jambs engaging said headto define a door frame, each of said door jambs comprising achannel-shaped member having an inward facing portion, a pair ofopposing flange members and a pair of opposing lips, said opposing lipsbeing formed from successive bends in said flange members and beingspaced to receive the adjacent wall therebetween, removable clamp meansmounted internally in each of said door jambs, said clamp meanscomprising a face plate, tension clip means and adjustment means, saidtension clip means having a first portion abutting the interior surfaceof said inward facing portion of said door jamb, a second portionabutting said face plate and a third portion engaging said lips of saiddoor jamb, said face plate being held in abutting relationship to saidtension clip means by said adjustment means which joins said face plateand said door jamb whereby movement of said adjustment means causes saidtension clip means to pivot about said interior surface of said inwardfacing portion and to urge said lips inward toward each other and gripsaid wall.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said clamp means includes a pair oftension clips.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises ascrew which passes through aligned holes in said face plate and saiddoor jamb.

4-. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a housing for said tension clipmeans is interposed between said first portion of said tension clipmeans and said interior surface of said inward facing portion of saiddoor jamb and said first portion of said tension clip means abuts andpivots about the interior surface of said housing.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein each of said door jambs is furthersecured to said adjacent wall by anchor means.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said anchor means comprises hookmeans engaging the lip of said door jamb and fastening means forconnecting said anchor means to said adjacent walls.

7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said anchor means engages said doorjamb below the midpoint thereof.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said clamp means includes a pair oftension clips.
 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said adjustment meanscomprises a screw which passes through aligned holes in said face plateand said door jamb.
 4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a housing forsaid tension clip means is interposed between said first portion of saidtension clip means and said interior surface of said inward facingportion of said door jamb and said first portion of said tension clipmeans abuts and pivots about the interior surface of said housing. 5.The assembly of claim 4 wherein each of said door jambs is furthersecured to said adjacent wall by anchor means.
 6. The assembly of claim5 wherein said anchor means comprises hook means engaging the lip ofsaid door jamb and fastening means for connecting said anchor means tosaid adjacent walls.
 7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said anchormeans engages said door jamb below the midpoint thereof.